Toothbrush incorporating dentifrice dispenser
A toothbrush having a conduit leading through the brush body to a plurality of egress apertures positioned within the bristle base of the brush covered by a slide tab having corresponding apertures that can be moved between an aligned open and an offset closed position to keep the dentifrice from drying out between usage's.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to dispensers and, more specifically, to a toothbrush incorporating means for dispensing a dentifrice into the toothbrush bristles. The toothbrush has a conduit leading through the brush body to a plurality of egress apertures positioned within the bristle base of the brush covered by a slide that can be moved between an open and closed position to keep the dentifrice from drying out between usage.
Additionally, the present invention provides for an additional element wherein the toothbrush receives a canister of dentifrice that is clipped onto the toothbrush handle providing a reusable toothbrush.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other dispensing devices designed for tubular material. While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
It is thus desirable to provide a toothbrush having a cavity for the insertion of dentifrice that can be selectively dispensed by a user.
It is further desirable to provide a reusable toothbrush having a toothbrush body and means for receiving a tube of dentifrice that can be selectively dispensed and replaced when empty.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONA primary object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush having dentifrice contained within the body of the brush.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush having a conduit leading from the reservoir of dentifrice to the toothbrush bristles.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide said conduit with a plurality of apertures leading to the toothbrush bristles.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a slide positioned within the head whereby said apertures can be selectively opened and closed to prevent the dentifrice from drying out between uses.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush having a body comprising a handle and brush head with retaining means for receiving a replaceable tube of dentifrice.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism whereby the dentifrice is moved from the replaceable tube through conduit to the toothbrush bristles.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush with a replaceable tube of dentifrice with a mechanism for opening and closing egress apertures within the toothbrush bristles.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a toothbrush incorporating means for dispensing a dentifrice into the toothbrush bristles. The toothbrush has a conduit leading through the brush body to a plurality of egress apertures positioned within the bristle base of the brush covered by a slide that can be moved between an open and closed position to keep the dentifrice from drying out between usage's.
Additionally, the present invention provides for an additional element wherein the toothbrush receives a canister of dentifrice that is clipped onto the toothbrush handle providing a reusable toothbrush.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several view, the figures illustrate the Toothbrush incorporating dentifrice dispenser of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
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- 10 Toothbrush incorporating dentifrice dispenser
- 12 toothbrush handle
- 14 bristle head
- 16 bristles
- 18 apertures of 14
- 20 sliding tab
- 22 apertures of 20
- 24 toothpaste cartridge
- 26 toothpaste
- 28 injector pump
- 29 one-way valve
- 30 cartridge chamber
- 32 platen
- 34 cap
- 36 cap ridge
- 38 bristle head conduit
The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various application without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.
Claims
1. A toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush comprising:
- a) a handle having an elongated free end and an opposite second end;
- b) a bristle head with a plurality of bristles extending from one side thereof, said bristle head having one end joined to said opposite second end of said handle and a free second end;
- c) a cartridge chamber disposed within said handle;
- d) a removable toothpaste cartridge within said cartridge chamber;
- e) a conduit extending through an interior portion of said bristle head and in communication with said toothpaste cartridge;
- f) a plurality of apertures disposed in said one side of said bristle head providing access from said conduit to said bristles;
- g) a slide tab in said bristle head disposed between said conduit and said apertures wherein said slide tab extends beyond said free second end of said bristle head, said slide tab slidable between an almost fully inserted first position and an extended second position where said tab is extended further out of said bristle head, said slide tab having a free end extending out from said bristle head;
- h) a plurality of apertures disposed within said slide tab arranged to be offset from said bristle head apertures when said slide tab is in the first position, and the apertures of said tab and said bristle head aligned when said slide tab is in the second position;
- i) said slide tab free end having a nub to aid in selective movement of said slide tab, said nub having a hook-like portion directed toward said one side of said bristle head where said bristles extend therefrom to limit movement of said slide tab into said bristle head; and
- j) means for advancing said toothpaste from said toothpaste cartridge into said conduit said means for advancing disposed on said free end of said handle.
2. A toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush as recited in claim 1, wherein said toothpaste advancing means is a manually operated injector pump.
3. A toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush as recited in claim 2, wherein said toothpaste cartridge further includes a movable platen disposed towards said injector pump wherein a pressurized situation results in said platen responding by moving away from said pump and creating a pressurized condition within said toothpaste cartridge.
4. A toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush as recited in claim 3, wherein said toothpaste cartridge is removable and may be replaced when empty.
5. A toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush as recited in claim 4, further including a cap member that can be removably secured to said bristle head to protect said bristles from exterior contaminants.
6. A toothpaste-dispensing toothbrush as recited in claim 5, wherein said cap retaining means is a cap ridge extending from said bristle head to provide for the frictional engagement of said cap member thereto.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 14, 2005
Date of Patent: Apr 4, 2006
Inventor: Pamela King (Mt. Pleasant, SC)
Primary Examiner: Khoa D. Huynh
Attorney: Michael I. Kroll
Application Number: 11/058,592
International Classification: A46B 11/04 (20060101); B43M 11/06 (20060101);